Favorite off-site dining?

[anna08]

Hello fellow DVCers! We've got a rental car on this upcoming trip and I was wondering where Disney's most knowledgeable vacationers like to dine off-site.

The only must do on my list so far is Earl of Sandwich for lunch (which doesn't really count as off-site!)

Thanks!

 

[Msmithmd]

If you like Chicago style pizza, Giordano's is very nice. The larger location is in Kissimmee.

If you want a more adult (yet still family friendly) vibe with major chain restaurants, Universal city walk is pretty neat.

Orlando must have ten thousand different restaurants. I'd try yelp or tripadvisor, depending on the food type you're searching to find. Yelp has the advantage of giving you real time mapping- so type in "Italian" when you're standing at Animal Kingdom, and a map will pop up with all options around, both in and outside of Disney property.

 

[carol1231]

We like:
Celebration Town Tavern
Cafe d'Antonio's in Celebration
Joe's Crab Shack
Chuy's
Shula Burger
Sweet Tomatoes

 

[disneyfreak33]

We ate at Orlando Ale House this past trip, after passing it many times we finally tried it and it was pretty good so there is another option.

 

[dfherrera]

We like Seasons 52outside the park, great fresh food and portioned well.

 

[jekjones1558]

Bahama Breeze is one of the Darden chain restaurants. We don't have them at home and we like their food. I buy gift cards at Target with my Target credit card and I get 5% off and then use them at Bahamas Breeze.

 

[3Gsandme]

Giordano's is delicious. We debated stopping this trip, but we'll be in Chicago in a few weeks, so we skipped it. We ate at BJ's Brewhouse in Orlando (right by the outlets). It was very good and a much needed respite from the park food (which is not very good).

 

[com_op_2000]

Any of the resturants in the Gaylord Palms Resort:
Old Hickory Steakhouse
Villa de Flora
Sunset Sam's

 

[LSchrow]

flipper's in the crossroads center (down the street from DTD) is our favorite
delicious flatbreads, pizza, & pasta (haven't tried the other menu items, so can't attest).
food is fresh and made to order, and the prices are very reasonable. flipper's is one of those hidden gems

 

[disney junky]

Columbia's in Celebration is good. Cuban food. Great setting.

 

[anna08]

Great ideas! We had a fabulous meal several years ago at Emeril's over by Universal. I hadn't thought about eating at an outside resort hotel like Gaylord - that really expands the closer options!

We miss Chuys since our move so we may have to hunt that one down.

I've never eaten Cuban but we love ethnic foods!

The menu and pictures for Seasons 52 look fabulous! I would go there now if I could!

Thanks everyone!

I don't know why, but I don't find dining at WDW pleasurable at all. Food often disappoints, prices even more so. I think I need to rethink our vacation style and get out of the world a bit more. I actually like grilling out at the DVCs by the pool (or is it that I like DH doing it?!) and now that the kids are old enough to read menus & behave well in restaurants I'm ready to explore.

 

[com_op_2000]

Checkout this thread for additional options:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3106043

 

[amym2]

We love Celebration Town Tavern for their fried clams with bellies and other Boston foods.

Sweet Tomatoes is a great buffet, refreshing to eat lighter food after all of the heavy stuff in the parks.

Giordano's is yummy.

 

[chmasy]

Don Pablos on I-Drive if you like Mexican

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

we like the celebration town tavern that way we get to play golf first

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We enjoy Sweet Tomatoes, Flippers, and Johnnie's Hideaway -- all at the Crossroads shopping center near Downtown Disney.

 

[papertraveller]

Our list includes Sweet Tomatoes, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and Bonefish Grill. We also like Logan's Roadhouse at The Loop.

 

[lsutigger2]

Another vote for Sweet Tomatoes! Sometimes we will eat there more than one time during a trip!!

 

[JimMIA]

Columbia's in Celebration is good. Cuban food. Great setting.

Columbia is actually old-line Spanish cuisine, not Cuban. There is quite a difference. The restaurant originated in the historic Ybor City area of Tampa, and has been one of the premier restaurants in Tampa since the dawn of time.

Columbia has several restaurants outside of Ybor City, and ANY time we are within driving distance of one of them, it is a must-do. We eat at the Columbia in Celebration every trip to WDW, and also when we go to Maitland (NE of Orlando) for figure skating competitions. When we go to Ellenton, FL for skating, we take the hour trip down to St Armands Circle in Sarasota to hit the Columbia there.

One required order every time is the legendary 1905 Salad, which is tossed at your table. It is amazing. When we were in WDW in December, I had the "Grouper Jimmy," which was absolutely to die for.

Great food, very good service, nice ambiance, and lower prices than you would expect for really good dining. Columbia is our favorite restaurant.

 

[jekjones1558]

Columbia is actually old-line Spanish cuisine, not Cuban. There is quite a difference. The restaurant originated in the historic Ybor City area of Tampa, and has been one of the premier restaurants in Tampa since the dawn of time.

From Columbia's website:
"The Columbia overlooks Celebration's picturesque lake and offers classic elegance in a Mediterranean style setting where diners can enjoy fine Spanish/Cuban cuisine in our old-world-style dining rooms, an outdoor café, courtyard, or our Tapas Bar."